Theophostic Prayer Techniques

 This is a review of some erroneous prayer practices taught in a book some friends had subtly been given to study and practice a few years ago. Similar errors are confronted in Dave Hunt's Seduction of Christianity which is recommended for further research.

The Light on Theophostic Prayer Techniques

 The book by Ed Smith entitled Healing Life's Hurts Through Theophostic Prayer, for the most part is consistent with the scripture. Apart from the numerous stories filling much of the book, most of his points are probably verifiable and accurate. What follows here after is a critique of some of the errors and the dangers associated with them.  

  Theophostic prayer is designed for people who experience extreme emotionally related dysfunctions or compulsive behavior. The underlying theory is that most of our present emotional pain is the result of past experiences stored in our memory container (pg.44) along with a lie based thought about that experience. Until the lie is dealt with, our problems will continue to control our present behavior. (pg.39-56, see also Chp.3) The only evidence for these claims is an appeal to personal accounts.

 The technique of healing is by visiting your memories (pg.159, 101, 69-70) and allowing 'Jesus' to show you the lie based thoughts packaged in your memory containers. Once this is experienced, healing by Jesus is administered and the recipient experiences 'perfect peace'. Again the only evidence appealed to is personal accounts.

 'Jesus' it is said does not appear physically in our memories (pg.206). This is kind of obvious, but Ed Smith says that 'Jesus' may appear in a visual representation in our memories (pg.206). This on the surface would seem to be a false memory if you believe the dictionary definition of memory. But as we will see 'Jesus' can do anything including apparently defy his own warnings recorded in the scriptures ("Christ...is in the secret chambers; believe it not Matt.24:23-6). Now we are instructed against asking the 'Jesus' in your memory chambers (chambers of imagery- Ezek.8:12) to "do anything for you" (pg.245). This would seem strange if it is really Jesus, but since Ed Smith is concerned about guided imagery (pg.195-6, 235, 238-9) he wants the prayer facilitator to be the one speaking to 'Jesus' (pg.245-6). There is no rational basis or scriptural appeal made to substantiate any of this, thus we will have to speculate that somehow this mediator (prayer facilitator-1 Tim.2:5) between the person and the Jesus in their memory chambers is a check against some form of guided imagery. How do we know any of this is true? Experience, again (pg.205-6, 219). So much for the more sure word of God (2 Pet.1:16-19) Ed Smith himself while facilitating a woman had to correct what she said 'Jesus' told her in her memory chambers (pg.141). This happens occasionally (pg.143-4)

 We can however experience joy unspeakable and full of glory having not seen Jesus and not now seeing him (1 Pet.1:8, Jn.20:29). Jesus said the time would come that we would not see him (Jn.16:16-20). Paul stated that we will come to visions and revelations of the Lord, but no mention of Him in our memory (2 Cor:12:1, Eph.1:17, Acts2:17), and would henceforth not know Jesus after the flesh (2 Cor.5:16).

  Truth is not searched out in the bible (thy word is truth-Jn. 17:17) rather experience is the proof (pg.205 "more than anything else"). If it "works" to bring about peace then it is from God. This of course is the "testimony of Joseph Smith" that all Mormons claim as the basis of truth to confirm their religion. They testify of "perfect peace" that the spirit gives them regarding the truthfulness of Joseph Smith. Peace is something many hippies experienced during various 'trips' into their memory containers with the help of LSD and other mind altering drugs. We therefore should be careful not to be moved by cries of peace, peace, when there is no peace (Jer.8:11, Rom.5:1, Col.1:20). Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them- Psa.119:165. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee- Isa.26:3 (not searching our memory containers) The peace experienced in the mind of TPMers has nothing to do with the peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom.5:1, Col.1:20) since unbelievers can experience this peace of mind (Phil.4:7) according to Ed Smith (pg.226-7)

 We should not be suprised however that scripture is not appealed to as evidence of this technique for it is frankly admitted this technique is not found in the bible (pg.182). What is disturbing is that the power of the word of God is repeatedly made of none effect. For example:

1. Supplying bible truths is inadequate to heal. (pg.59)
2. The law was not given to heal. (pg.59)
3. More biblical truth does not guarantee freedom. (pg.61)
4. Cognitive truth cannot change lies people believe. (pg.97)
5. Memorizing scripture and telling ourselves truth won't change our problems. (pg.79)

This doesn't glorify God who gives the scriptures. For example:

1. The scripture makes us able to be "perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" 2 Tim.3:16 "The law of the LORD is perfect converting the soul" Psa.19:7
2. He sent his word, and healed them- Psa.107:20
3. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Jn.8:32
4. "the word of God, which worketh effectually also in you that believe" 1 Thes.2:13, He whose delight is in the law of the LORD shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psa.1:2-3
5. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psa.119:11

 It may be however that Ed Smith did not have much success counseling with the scripture (pg.12, 59, 104-5) because he made it of none effect (Psa.119:24, Mk 7:13,  Mt.15:9). The cross he states is not sufficient for our pain caused by lie based thinking (pg.54) Yet the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom.1:16, 1 Cor.1:18). The gospel gives us salvation from death and hell and sin, but apparently pain created from believing a lie is outside the reach of Gods saving grace in the gospel. But to those who receive the gospel as the word of men (1 Thes.2:13) and have a form of knowledge and of the truth in the law (Rom.2:20) but denying the power thereof (2 Tim.3:5) the gospel would be made of none effect (1 Cor.1:17). That is not the fault of the gospel but rather those who believe in vain (1 Cor.15:2). For the law is spiritual but I am carnal. The commandment was ordained to life (Rom.7:10, 14) but it is weak through our flesh (Rom.8:3). He may have been ignorant that by the word of God the heavens were of old and are upheld (2 Pet.3:5, 7, Heb.1:3). God reveals himself as the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh (Jn.1:1, 14). We are changed into his image from glory to glory, so much that we are the epistles of Christ written by the Spirit of the living God as we behold his glory in the scriptures (2 Cor.3:3, 18). Therefore I would hold any inadequacy on Ed Smiths part and not on the part of the word of God (Rom.3:4).

 Ed Smith also along with downgrading the power of the scripture elevates the effectiveness of memory and emotion. Instead of the word of God dividing the soul and spirit, discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb.4:12-13), "Our emotions expose our core beliefs" (pg.79). While Jesus said the heart is deceitful above all things and who can know it beside him (Jer.17:9-10) Ed Smith asserts our emotions will always expose what we truly believe (pg.79). And again "If the memory holds information that is true, it cannot be changed." (pg.75) Yet he admits the shakiness of memory stating it is not a "pure science" (pg.204). Research, he says, is telling us how complex the memory is and thus it requires very careful handling to arrive at any conclusive understanding (pg.199). Memories may contain false information (pg.202-3) but don't worry about this just work in their {false} reality (pg.204). The lie packaged up in their memory container is what you are after (pg.199).

 This is foreign to bible salvation however. The scripture informs us that "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before" we should "go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God" (Heb.6:1, Phil.3:13). Not "mindful of that country from whence they came out" (Heb.11:15) Rather "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new" (2 Cor.5:17). And as scripture defines itself (Gen.40:8), when old things pass away they are "not remembered, nor come into mind" neither "shall they visit it" (Isa.65:17,Rev.21:1, Jer.3:16). Rather they are "dissolved" (2 Pet.3:10-13). The old man is crucified with Christ (Rom.6:6, Gal.2:19-20) thus we need not remind ourselves of what God has destroyed, it has no more dominion over us (Rom.6:9). The ‘perfect peace’ received by those ministered to by T.P.M. is not limited to believers in Christ. No, it extends to those who have no faith in Jesus Christ (pg.226-7). They can receive a ‘renewed mind’ but be condemned eternally for rejection of the Lord Jesus. They receive ‘peace in their minds but not in their hearts’. This of course disqualifies the renewing of the mind in T.P.M. from being the “renewing of the Holy Ghost” found in Titus 3:5. And makes man the source or the devil the source, but excludes Jesus Christ from being the source. Plus God would keep in perfect peace those whose minds are “stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee” This appears not to be the case with T.P.M. where you can have perfect peace in your mind and it not be on God.

 While God tells us to forget the old things, he does tell us to remember some things:

·         Scriptures- 2 Pt.3:1, 2

·         Promises- 2 Pt.1:12-15

·         Bible stories- Jude 4

·         Doctrine- 2 Tim.2:14, 1 Tim.4:6

·         The gospel- 2 Tim.2:8

·         The poor- Gal.2:10

·         Jesus' words- Act.20:35

·         Lot's wife- Luke 17:32

·         God's mercy- Lk.1:54

·         Our former zeal from where we fell- Heb.10:32, Rev.3:3, 2:5

·         From where we were saved from- Eph.2:11-13

 These are a few examples of what God wants us to remember. We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip (Heb.2:1). It is safe to stir up our pure minds by remembering the words of God (Phil.3:1, 2 Pt.3:1). But to search our memories for hidden causes of current pain is absent from any admonition, as Ed Smith would agree (pg.182).

 This being said let us put our faith not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Not in words that mans wisdom teaches, but what the Holy Ghost teaches (1 Cor.2:5, 13). And if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them- Isaiah 8:20. This is what the Spirit expressly warns us about in the latter times, seducing spirits and doctrines of devils (1 Tim.4:1). And those who do not endure sound doctrine (2 Tim.4:2-4) and receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved shall believe a lie and receive strong delusion (2 Thess.2:10-11). If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant (1 Cor.14:38) for God hath spoken:

  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision out of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

  Jeremiah 23:16-17